Nine People Injured When Car Drives Into Funeral Crowd At Boise Church

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By
Paul Johnson

Story Created:
Oct 8, 2013 at 8:08 AM MST

Story Updated:
Oct 8, 2013 at 9:59 AM MST

Boise, Idaho ( KMVT-TV / KTWT-TV ) - Boise police nine people were injured Monday afternoon after a vehicles 86 year old Boise driver accelerated into a crowd of people. They were leaving a funeral at a west Boise LDS Church at the corner of West McMillan Road and North Shamrock Avenue. "To have something like this happen to families leaving a church following a funeral makes this an extraordinarily difficult incident. Our hearts are with all those involved," said Deputy Chief William Bones. Boise Police, Firefighters and Ada County EMS were called at 2:43 pm. When they arrived at the scene they found multiple victims lying along a 27 yard stretch between the church doors and the parking lot sidewalk and lawn area. Six people were taken by ambulance to three nearby hospitals; Saint Alphonsus Boise, Saint Alphonsus Eagle and St. Luke's Meridian. Three other people were taken to hospitals in private vehicles. Of the two most seriously injured, one is a five year old boy. At this time, the injuries are not believed to be life threatening. Officers have been told some of those injured are members of the same family. Officers say it appears the driver apparently unintentionally accelerated a newer model Toyota sedan across the parking lot, onto the sidewalk and front lawn of the church, turning to the driver's left before stopping on another sidewalk. One of the nine transported was an adult female who was a passenger in the suspect vehicle. It appears the driver had been attending the funeral along with the victims.